I have just open sourced this eBook as a free book (it has been commercial for 3 years) as some of the content (mainly relating to software packages) is looking a little old now. The techniques and processes still look very sensible.

]]>https://thescreencastinghandbook.com/blog/the-screencasting-hanbook-is-now-open-sourced/feed/2https://thescreencastinghandbook.com/blog/the-screencasting-hanbook-is-now-open-sourced/“How to screencast” post on Freelance Advisorhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheScreencastingHandbook/~3/-Psl5UgA5kU/
Thu, 19 Aug 2010 21:11:14 +0000https://thescreencastinghandbook.com/?p=711I’ve just started a three part guest post series on Freelance Advisor, the first entry is “Communicating more effectively with screencasts“.

The goal of the first post is to show freelancers how they could use screencasts to improve their business, in particular:

Avoid meetings by sharing progress reports with screencasts

Communicating more effectively with clients and vice versa (let the client show you what’s on their mind!)

How to make your first screencast

The next two posts will look at demonstrating your skill and building a following using screencasts, distribution and licensing and finally looking at ways of making money from screencasts.

Finally I talk about “Making money with screencasting” – there are several ways to monetise your knowledge through screencasts. They range from selling your knowledge through another site over to building your own knowledge-based site, there are some simple techniques you can use to get started now.

]]>https://thescreencastinghandbook.com/blog/how-to-screencast-post-on-freelance-advisor/Selling ProCasts (my professional screencasting company)http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheScreencastingHandbook/~3/itOnos8-Lsw/
Sat, 07 Aug 2010 13:07:16 +0000https://thescreencastinghandbook.com/?p=703Some of you know that I built my professional screencasting company ProCasts during 2009 into the UK’s largest screencasting agency. I’ve decided to move away from professional screencasting (don’t worry – I’m still working on this Handbook!) and so the business of ProCasts is up for sale.

If you’re building your own professional screencasting brand then consider the following:

ProCasts generates leads for screencasting work every month

ProCasts has great organic traffic (not paid for via adverts!) from Google for key search terms like ‘custom screencast’ in both the UK and the USA

ProCasts has a strong reputation for high-quality screencasting that delivers the right message (and this provides for a nice margin!)

If you’re curious then visit the auction at flippa.com. Full details of traffic, keywords, income (with bank statements) and potential leads are provided. The listing will end in a week so there’s time to send me private questions (through flippa please) if you’d like to discuss the business.

This is exactly the right kind of opportunity for anyone who wants to build their business in both the UK and the USA (and Western Europe in general), this is especially relevant if you don’t yet have a strong reputation and you’d like to buy your way quickly up the ladder (rather than putting in a year or more of hard graft to build the same sort of reputation!).

]]>https://thescreencastinghandbook.com/blog/selling-procasts-my-professional-screencasting-company/Good microphone techniquehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheScreencastingHandbook/~3/-KCaPQutXIY/
https://thescreencastinghandbook.com/blog/good-microphone-technique/#commentsSun, 16 May 2010 16:17:46 +0000https://thescreencastinghandbook.com/?p=653In the Mic Technique chapter of The Screencasting Handbook a number of ways to improve your narration recording are discussed. In these two videos I’ll highlight the main points. First we cover:

Keeping a constant distance to the mic

Breath in a way that doesn’t swamp the microphone with noise

Use a pop filter to avoid heavy breaths

Avoid lip smack sounds

Drink water carefully

Next we look at the best way to position the mic. In this video I’m holding my sE2200A microphone to show you how the quality of the recording changes if you mistakenly use the mic back to front or at the wrong angle:

]]>https://thescreencastinghandbook.com/blog/good-microphone-technique/feed/3https://thescreencastinghandbook.com/blog/good-microphone-technique/Two more reviews for The Screencasting Handbookhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheScreencastingHandbook/~3/a58lxVp6SVo/
https://thescreencastinghandbook.com/blog/two-more-reviews-for-the-screencasting-handbook/#commentsSun, 16 May 2010 11:48:26 +0000https://thescreencastinghandbook.com/?p=679I’ve received two more reviews for the Handbook, first Stéphane Wattier penned Un guide pour vos tutoriels vidéo (English translation). Here’s a section from the Google-translated English version:

“In French, we can find comparative screencasting tools, tutorials devoted to a particular tool (see for example my current folder on screencasting) or this file explaining how to make a good video tutorial. But nothing comparable to The Screencasting Handbook, the most comprehensive guide to my knowledge”

“As biased as this review may seem (after all, I am listed in the acknowledgements section), this is probably the best book there is about screencasting”

Thanks to both Stéphane and Gabriel for penning the reviews!

]]>https://thescreencastinghandbook.com/blog/two-more-reviews-for-the-screencasting-handbook/feed/1https://thescreencastinghandbook.com/blog/two-more-reviews-for-the-screencasting-handbook/“The Ultimate Screencasting Guide” Handbook Reviewhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheScreencastingHandbook/~3/JW7vwkmWlCU/
https://thescreencastinghandbook.com/blog/the-ultimate-screencasting-guide-handbook-review/#commentsMon, 10 May 2010 19:19:05 +0000https://thescreencastinghandbook.com/?p=673Paul McGovern has written a wonderful review for the Handbook entitled “The Ultimate Screencasting Guide“. Paul is a Lecturer who has a lot of experience with screencasting, he’s written a very thorough review:

“The Screencasting Handbook weighs in at just under 130 pages and takes those completely new to screencasting as well as those that have some knowledge of the area through the processes and concepts involved in professional screencast production. The book deals primarily with techniques and approaches so users of no one application will feel isolated or left out. That said there are specific sections that relate content back to some of the leading screencasting applications Telestream’s ScreenFlow 2 & Camtasia Studio.”

…

“Throughout the book is clear, concise and very well presented, Diagrams are used to good effect and instruction is clear at all times. Even those with an already good working knowledge of the process will pick up new tricks and tips worthy of the price of investment”

]]>https://thescreencastinghandbook.com/blog/the-ultimate-screencasting-guide-handbook-review/feed/1https://thescreencastinghandbook.com/blog/the-ultimate-screencasting-guide-handbook-review/First Edition of The Screencasting Handbook published!http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheScreencastingHandbook/~3/SDYZj9lZN3M/
https://thescreencastinghandbook.com/blog/first-edition-of-the-screencasting-handbook-published/#commentsThu, 06 May 2010 19:01:36 +0000https://thescreencastinghandbook.com/?p=667I’m very pleased to announce that the First Edition of The Screencasting Handbook was released this weekend, it covers everything that a new screencaster needs and it’ll teach an intermediate a few things too. This release is priced at a discounted $36 until May 15th when it returns to the regular $39 price, buy your copy now.

As a novice screencaster, I found every section of The Screencasting Handbook enlightening. Particularly helpful is Ian Ozsvald’s coverage of microphone selection for improving audio recording quality. In my case, simply moving from an analog to digital input dramatically improved audio quality and reduced post-editing time to nearly nothing. I recommend The Screencasting Handbook to anyone wishing to learn about this technology or wishing to improve their screencasting skills. I believe every novice and most experts will find something beneficial in The Screencasting Handbook that will easily cover the cost of the book. – Darryl Pendergrass

The Screencasting Handbook is aimed at educators, support staff and business owners who want to learn how to improve their screencasting ability. The Handbook will teach you to:

Understand the needs of your viewer

Plan the screencast that will teach and convince them

Efficiently plan, record and produce your screencast

Host your screencast and distribute it to the right people

The Google Group has over 128 screencasters, you can ask any questions there and I’ll take feedback to put towards future editions of the Handbook.

Having written the Handbook what I could really do with now is some help from you spreading the word to the right people – if you can send a Tweet or make a blog post then I’d be eternally grateful!

If you’re not sure whether you should buy your copy yet then drop to the bottom of the homepage – you’ll find a mailing list that you can join. You’ll receive a few tips and a reminder every time the Handbook is updated (there won’t be many emails, it is low volume).

]]>https://thescreencastinghandbook.com/blog/first-edition-of-the-screencasting-handbook-published/feed/1https://thescreencastinghandbook.com/blog/first-edition-of-the-screencasting-handbook-published/Avoiding mouse wiggle – use zooms and spotlightshttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheScreencastingHandbook/~3/ZwgfiQDF118/
https://thescreencastinghandbook.com/blog/avoiding-mouse-wiggle-use-zooms-and-spotlights/#commentsSun, 02 May 2010 16:18:52 +0000https://thescreencastinghandbook.com/?p=649As discussed in chapter 6 it is important to avoid wiggling the mouse if you want to bring attention to something – it is annoying and distracting. Instead use zooms for pure focus and spotlights if you want the user to focus on something within the context of the rest of the screen.

]]>https://thescreencastinghandbook.com/blog/avoiding-mouse-wiggle-use-zooms-and-spotlights/feed/1https://thescreencastinghandbook.com/blog/avoiding-mouse-wiggle-use-zooms-and-spotlights/And another Screencasting Handbook reviewhttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheScreencastingHandbook/~3/KgNSVOvsB_Q/
https://thescreencastinghandbook.com/blog/and-another-screencasting-handbook-review/#commentsTue, 27 Apr 2010 11:13:10 +0000https://thescreencastinghandbook.com/?p=642Darryl Pendergrass has just written a review of the almost-released Screencasting Handbook. He’s also provided a great testimonial which I need to add to the homepage:

As a novice screencaster, I found every section of The Screencasting Handbook enlightening. Particularly helpful is Ian Ozsvald’s coverage of microphone selection for improving audio recording quality. In my case, simply moving from an analog to digital input dramatically improved audio quality and reduced post-editing time to nearly nothing. I recommend The Screencasting Handbook to anyone wishing to learn about this technology or wishing to improving screencasting skills. I believe every novice and most experts will find something beneficial in The Screencasting Handbook that will easily cover the cost of the book.

If you’d like to get your copy you can buy it here, the price rises at the end of the week once the Handbook is completely finished.

]]>https://thescreencastinghandbook.com/blog/and-another-screencasting-handbook-review/feed/1https://thescreencastinghandbook.com/blog/and-another-screencasting-handbook-review/The Screencasting Handbook Release 9 now availablehttp://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheScreencastingHandbook/~3/AtHlayDugIA/
https://thescreencastinghandbook.com/blog/the-screencasting-handbook-release-9-now-available/#commentsMon, 19 Apr 2010 21:36:50 +0000https://thescreencastinghandbook.com/?p=627The 9th release of The Screencasting Handbook is now out, this release is probably the last before the First Edition is released around the end of the month.

The current price is $36USD, the price will rise to $39USD in a couple of weeks when the final release comes out. Buy your copy now if you want to save a few dollars – you’ll get the First Edition by email in just a couple of weeks. These are the updates since the release a few weeks back: